Does this woman look too young to buy cigarettes to you?

Andrew Brookes

A 31-YEAR-OLD Spalding mother was shocked to be asked for ID when she tried to buy a packet of cigarettes – and astounded when her 51-year-old mother was also refused the sale on her behalf.

Emma Adcock (31) was out shopping with her mother Amanda Cooper (51) and her nine-month-old daughter Summer Elderkin at the Co-op store in Wygate Park on January 14 when she was asked for ID to prove she was 18 or over and allowed to buy a packet of cigarettes.

No sale: Amanda Cooper and Emma Adcock, with Summer Elderkin, have hit out at the Co-op for refusing them sale of a packet of cigarettes. Photo: SG1901110112NG

Emma did not have any ID on her so Amanda stepped in, but was not allowed to buy them herself in case she passed them on to Emma.

Amanda said: “I don’t think either of us has ever been asked before, Emma’s 31 and has got three kids, you don’t expect it really.

“We haven’t had a problem anywhere else.”

She saidthey have not been back to the shop since and says she doesn’t think they will go in again to avoid confronting the same cashier.

On the flip side the pair were pleased to be mistaken for much younger ages.

Amanda added: “I suppose in one way it cheers you up a bit – there is a funny side to it.

“At the age of 51 perhaps my wrinkles are not as bad as I thought. We should take it as a compliment to be refused at our ages.

“Perhaps the woman is a reformed smoker or just a jobsworth.”

Mrs Cooper added that she is a member of the Co-op society and will write to complain.

Lincolnshire Co-operative spokesman Emma Snedden said: “As yet, we have not had any correspondence from those involved so we can’t comment on these specific circumstances.

“However, we do operate a strict Challenge 25 policy in our foodstores, where we ask anyone who looks under 25 for ID before selling age-restricted products such as alcohol or cigarettes.

“We also offer our staff extensive training on the issues.”

Staff are also told not to sell an age restricted product if they fear it could be passed on to someone underage – and can face fines themselves if they do.